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CHRISTCHURCH: The Muslim call to prayer sounded out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people killed by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 20,000 people standing quietly at Hagley Park, in front of the Al Noor mosque where most of the victims were killed during Friday prayers last week.

“New Zealand mourns with you. We are one,” she said in a short speech, followed by two minutes of silence.

Ardern, who swiftly denounced the shooting as terrorism, has announced a ban on military-style semi-automatic and assault rifles.

The country is under heightened security alert since the attack, and police said on Friday they were investigating a threat made against Ardern on Twitter.

New Zealand Herald reported that a Twitter post containing a photo of a gun and captioned “You are next” was sent to the prime minister. Reuters could not verify this independently.

The report said the account was suspended.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with one murder following the Christchurch attack and was remanded without a plea.

He is due back in court on April 5, when police said he was likely to face more charges.